1. Size and Weight: The e-book readers win, hands down. They are very small and light, unlike most tablets.
2. Versatility: Here, tablets rule. Not only can you read books, you can surf the net, play games, check your e-mail, watch movies, listen to music and much more.
3. Readability: E-Book readers have a decided advantage here. The non-reflective e-Ink displays of the Kindle and Nook allow for reading booth indoors and outdoors and in varying light conditions. Their high-contrast, high-resolution B&W screens are hard to beat. Tablets have the advantage of superior graphics, the ability to display items in color and reading in low light.
4. Battery Life: The e-book readers crush tablets in this area. A Kindle or B&W Nook is good for 3+ weeks of reading without a charge. Most tablets can only provide 6-10 hours of juice.
5. Speed: Tablets trump readers in this area as most of them have fast processors (even dual-core) and superior UIs. If you have to jump around a book or need to consult multiple sources while doing research, they are far better than the dedicated readers.
6. Price: The B&W e-readers are easy on your wallet weighing in at less than a Benjamin and a half. By contrast, most tablets are in the $300-600 range.
The pendulum definitely swings towards dedicated readers for pure book reading, while tablets are capable of a lot more. If you are looking for a device that gives you the best of both worlds, check out the Nook Color. It is an inexpensive tablet that is designed for book reading.
